CHAPTER 46 #2
Lunch had just ended, and the family was getting ready to leave when Maria informed them that the police commissioner had arrived with his team.
Karan asked her to have them seated. He was surprised they were here, but at the same time, he knew one thing clearly…if the police had come in person, it meant there was an update about the man who had shot him.
He, along with the others, moved into the living room, greeted the commissioner, and soon everyone settled onto the sofas. Mishti sat beside Karan, close enough to feel the tension in him even before the details were out.
Commissioner Shinde cleared his throat and said, “We have arrested the man who shot you, Mr Wadhwa.”
Karan’s jaw tightened, his fists almost clenching, as the commissioner continued. “He was arrested in Alibaug. He was attempting to flee Mumbai through the Alibaug port. The plan was to escape by sea to Middle East using an illegal cargo vessel, from where he would have disappeared further.”
Everyone listened intently, including Mishti, who remained still beside Karan, her attention fixed on every word.
“Did he confess?” Karan asked, desperate to know further.
The commissioner nodded. “Yes. He is merely a shooter. Hired for the job. He is not part of any local gang. Just an individual who was paid to do this. And you were the target.”
He went on, “He knew you were attending your sister’s wedding in Jaipur.
That information was already out in the media, given how grand the wedding was.
He tracked your movements from there. When you returned, he had everything planned.
The private airport was the location where he decided to execute the act. ”
The commissioner paused briefly before adding, “But he missed the shot by barely an inch. Otherwise, it was a clean shot.”
Silence settled in the room. Mishti’s fingers trembled as she recalled that moment when Karan was shot.
Karan noticed it immediately and pressed his hand over hers, calming her.
Neither of them looked at the other. Their eyes remained fixed on the commissioner, but that silent handhold gave her the strength she desperately needed.
Karan finally asked, keeping his voice steady despite the storm inside him, “And who paid him to do this?”
The commissioner exhaled slowly before answering. “The one you suspected, Mr Wadhwa. You were right when you mentioned it in your initial statement. Dilip Goel paid him to carry this out, using his outside connections.”
The moment that name left the commissioner’s mouth, Mishti froze.
Around her, the rest of the family, including VK, Rajat, Abhimanyu, and even Avni, erupted into angry murmurs, drawing conclusions, questioning why that man was still interfering in their lives.
But Mishti felt only guilt. Heavy, suffocating guilt. And she couldn’t bear it.
Karan was furious too, but the instant he noticed Mishti’s sudden stiffness, her quiet withdrawal, and her guilt, he chose silence. He did not say a word.
The commissioner continued, “We are still taking everything into account in this case. Once we have all the required details, we will update you.”
Karan nodded. He then rose as the commissioner, and his team were escorted out. His gaze then shifted to Mishti again, who couldn’t meet his eyes. In fact, she couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.
As the others continued discussing and cursing Dilip Goel, Karan immediately asked them to stop.
“Enough,” he said firmly. “We don’t need to take that man’s name anymore in this house.”
Mishti still did not look at him.
Rajat understood what Karan left unsaid and finally spoke. “I think he is right. And now we should let Karan rest, too. We’ve troubled him enough today. We’ll come again.”
Avni agreed. VK did too.
As they prepared to leave, Mishti immediately put a soft smile on her face and held it there until they were gone.
Even Abhimanyu said he would head to the office, as things were pending. Karan asked him to take the guards along and stay safe.
And then, it was just the two of them.
The moment they were alone, her shoulders finally sagged, as if her body had been holding itself upright by sheer will until this moment. The strength she had put on for everyone else slipped away, leaving her standing there, suddenly feeling smaller and guilty.
Karan noticed it instantly.
He crossed the space between them in two strides and reached for her before she could turn away. His fingers curled under her chin, lifting her face to his.
“Don’t,” he said quietly. “Don’t you dare feel guilty about this.”
Her lips trembled. “Karan—”
“No.” His thumb pressed lightly against her jaw, stopping her words before they could spill out. “Not even for a second.”
That was when she broke.
“How am I supposed to be calm?” she snapped.
“How am I supposed to breathe like nothing happened when I know he’s still hurting this family?
” Her eyes shone in anger and anguish. “This time, he crossed his line. He didn’t just manipulate or threaten; he almost killed you.
” Her breath hitched. “How am I supposed to live with that?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled her towards him, his arm wrapping around her back.
“You’ll live with that because you are my wife… Mrs Mishti Wadhwa,” he said, sternly. “You are not connected to his name anymore,” he continued. “Not to him. Not to his actions. Not to his sins. So, never feel guilty for what he does.”
Mishti just stared at him as he went on. “I am already regretting holding you responsible for all his sins only because you were his bloodline. But never again.”
She shook her head weakly. “But—”
“What he does,” Karan cut in calmly, “he will pay for. You have nothing to do with it.”
He lifted his hand and wiped the tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. As he did, a sharp pull tugged at the injured spot on his arm. He barely reacted, but the slight wince didn’t escape her.
“Karan.” She pulled back instantly, panic flashing across her face. “Are you okay? Is it hurting?”
He looked at her then and sighed.
“One wince from me,” he said, “and you can’t stand seeing my pain.” His hand slid to her cheek. “So how do you expect me to see you cry like this and live with a pain that isn’t even your fault?”
Mishti stared at him, slowly understanding what he was trying to tell her, not with logic, but with love. Her breathing evened out, the tension easing from her shoulders as she nodded faintly, choosing calm because she knew he needed it from her.
Only when he was sure she was steady did his thumb trace her cheek again, lingering.
“And now,” he murmured, diverting the topic, “coming to the reward for that delicious halwa.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as he leaned closer.
“Karan…” she said softly, her fingers curling around his wrists, suddenly aware of where they were, of the fact that anyone could walk past that room.
But Karan didn’t care. He closed the distance and claimed her lips slowly, almost cautiously at first, as if giving her the chance to pull away.
She didn’t.
The moment his mouth moved against hers, she ached more for him. After their consummation in Jaipur, this was the first time they had been this intimate again. She didn’t resist. She rose onto her toes instinctively, meeting him halfway, kissing him back with more intent, more need.
Karan’s hand slid from her cheek into her hair, fingers threading through the soft strands as he tilted her face just enough to deepen the kiss.
The other hand came to rest at her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left to wonder.
Misti’s fingers fisted into the front of his shirt, clutching the fabric as if she needed the proof of him there.
His thumb brushed along her jaw as the kiss grew slower, fuller, his lips sucking hers like she was his favourite dessert.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them.
Mishti felt it first. Her body tensed a fraction, and that spell broke as she immediately placed her palm against Karan’s chest and pushed him back gently.
Her cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment as she saw Maria walking past them, without looking, but her expression was enough to confirm she had seen them kissing.
Mishti avoided her eyes, inhaled once, and purposely diverted the subject before Karan could say a word.
“Now, coming to the London issue,” she started. “You cannot be serious about dropping all your responsibilities here and coming with me.”
Karan shook his head once, already done with the discussion. In his head, he was already in London, living with his wife. Hence, his expression made it clear that he was not in the mood to debate something he had already decided.
“I am coming with you,” he said firmly. “Even if you want to keep a distance between us, do it. But we do that living together. In the same house. Around each other. Because that is the only way I can survive now. I am done living without you, Mishti.”
Mishti opened her mouth, searching for a comeback, but none came. All she could manage was a soft scoff instead. “This is exactly what I was talking about,” she muttered. “Swatting you for your tantrums and demands.”
Karan grinned at that. His eyes flicked around the room briefly before returning to her face. “I am waiting.”
It took her a second to understand.
And then she did.
Her cheeks burned instantly, turning a deep shade of red as she realised exactly what he meant. Mortified, she pushed at his chest again, this time with more force, blurting out the first thing that came to her mind just to hide her shyness.
“You are impossible,” she snapped, before turning on her heel and walking straight into the kitchen.
Karan stayed where he was. He did not follow her.
His expression sobered as the moment settled, because now other things had to be addressed. Knowing that Dilip Goel had hired someone to shoot him was not something he was going to sit quietly with. He would not allow a threat like this to exist again. Not for himself. Not for anyone in the family.
He pulled out his phone and walked away, already dialling numbers, planning his next actions.
From the kitchen doorway, Mishti turned back and saw him engaged in a call. The smile that had lingered on her face moments ago was slowly replaced by a heavy seriousness.
No matter how much Karan had told her not to feel guilty, she could not simply let this go.
All this time, she had only heard about the sins her father had committed against Karan and his family. But this time, he had crossed a line that could not be ignored. He had tried to kill Karan.
That was unforgivable.
She knew what she had to do. But she also knew that Karan would never allow her to get involved directly if he sensed what she was thinking. Which meant she needed help. Someone who would listen and understand the gravity of it without stopping her and help her do this.
And she knew exactly who that was.
Rajat.